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Norway : Oslo - December 2009

Country Code: Dial for Norway

Snow in Oslo in December turns the city into a winter wonderland. The rooftops are covered with the white stuff, while the surrounding countryside turns to whipped cream. If you’re here on 10 December, you might just catch a glimpse of Barack Obama, as he will be in town to collect his Nobel Peace Prize. Gwaldys Fouché cranes her neck

Getting around

Gardermoen Airport is 48km north of the city centre.

Bus: A shuttle bus leaves the airport every 20 minutes, taking about 40 minutes to reach central Oslo. A single ticket costs €15/NOK 120.
Train: The Flytoget express train leaves Gardermoen airport every 10 minutes and takes about 20 minutes to reach the city. A single ticket is €20/NOK 160.
Taxi: A journey to the city centre costs approximately €70/ NOK 560 and takes about 45 minutes.
Tourist information: The main office is near Central Station in the Trafikanten Service Center, 1 Jernbanetorget (tel. , visitoslo.com).

CITY CENTRE

Oslo’s small but perfectly formed city centre is easily explored on foot.

Sleep soundly – Sleep like a Nobel laureate at the elegant Grand Hotel (31 Karl Johans Gate, tel. , grand.no, rooms from €278/NOK 2330), where the Peace Prize winners stay when in town for the ceremony.

Culture vultures – The US President will receive his award at Oslo Town Hall (Rådhusplassen) and deliver a lecture on peace. Mere mortals can visit the US civil rights exhibition From King to Obama at the Nobel Peace Center (1 Brynjulf Bulls Plass) or try to get a ticket for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert on 11 December at Oslo Spektrum (2 Sonja Henies Plass). Wyclef Jean, Donna Summer and Amadou & Mariam are performing.

Dance the night away – Rockers should make a beeline for Garage (9 Grensen), where live acts range from punk to indie.

Shop til you drop – Enjoy Norwegian Yuletide treats, such as gingerbread biscuits and gløgg (mulled wine) at the Town Hall Square Christmas Market (Rådhusplassen, until 20 December). Find the latest gadget at the Designers’ Christmas Market in the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture (16 Haussmanns Gate, 5-6 December).

GRÜNERLØKKA

Situated north of the city centre, this former working class area is currently the hottest spot in town to eat, drink and be merry.

Sleep soundly – Budget travellers should head to the cheap and cheerful Best Western Anker Hotel (55 Storgata, tel. , anker-hotel.no, rooms from €78/NOK 650).

Must eat – Next door to Dr Kneipps, Markveien Mat og Vinhus (12 Torvbakkgata, tel. ) serves up dishes like klippfisk (dried and salted cod) in a tomato and potato stew. Bistro-style Villa Paradiso (8 Olav Ryes Plass, tel. ) does some of the best pizza in town.

Must drink – Put on your blue suede shoes at rockabilly bar Ryes (59 Thorvald Meyers Gate). Dr Kneipps Vinbar (12 Torvbakkgata) is a cosy wine bar with an excellent selection.

Dance the night away – Housed in a warehouse alongside the Akerselva river, Blå (9 Brenneriveien) is the best club for dance, soul and jazz.

MAJORSTUA

To the north-west of the city centre, Majorstua is where the young, chic Norwegians live.

Culture vultures – Vigeland Sculpture Park (main entrance in Kirkeveien) is a park with over 200 statues placed around a monolith representing the struggle for human existence.

Must drink – Litteraturhuset (29 Wergelandsveien) is a favourite hangout of Oslo’s literary crowd. It’s also only a stone’s throw away from another of their favourite drinking holes, Lorry (12 Parkveien).

Shop til you drop – The action centres around Bogstadveien street. For kitchenware, head to Traktøren Kjøkkenutstyr (25 Bogstadveien) and for textiles, visit The Scandinavian Design Company (50 Bogstadveien).

FROGNER

The area behind the royal palace has been Oslo’s chicest since Henrik Ibsen moved here in the late 19th century.

Sleep soundly – Head to the ivycovered boutique bolthole, Clarion Collection Hotel Gabelshus (16 Gabels Gate, tel. , choicehotels.com, rooms from €143/ NOK 1195).

Culture vultures – Visit the lovingly restored home of the great Norwegian playwright at the Ibsen Museum (26 Henrik Ibsens Gate).

Must eat – Gourmets will enjoy Palace Grill (2 Solligata, tel. ), a restaurant with just 23 seats, where the menu changes daily according to the chef’s mood. Alex Sushi (2 Cort Adelers Gate, tel. ) was rated by The New York Times as the best sushi restaurant outside Tokyo.

Compiled by Gwaldys Fouché